165 Something Bad Happened (2/2)

”I–I…I w–would…”

”You would what?” Astrid didn't reply further, rather she clamped her lips shut. ”I thought so, you wouldn't want that. Rather than thanking me, you are bothered about me seeing your body.”

'As if I haven't seen you before!'

The moment he said that an image of her bathing flashed before his eyes and that familiar feeling came back. His eyes raked her whole body as though he was looking at the bathing Astrid.

He gulped when he felt a slight bulge in his pants. 'Damn it! Not now, please.' He pleaded with himself as his gaze went down in between his legs.

”I'm sorry,” she apologized out of the blue.

His head went back up and their eyes met at the same time.

”There is nothing to be sorry for.”

In actual truth, he had not seen her body when he dressed her wounds. He only cleaned the wound from where her clothes got torn by the sword and arrow. After that, he did pull her gown downwards, but he did all these and dressed the wound with his eyes closed.

He should have told her, but he enjoyed seeing her embarrassed self. Besides, she would lash out at him for making her feel worried.

Perhaps he would tell her about it, but later. For now, he just wanted to enjoy this while it lasted.

Everyone fell into silence; no one spoke as they battled with their own thoughts.

He finally broke the silence and asked, ”How are your injuries?” His face straight and void of any emotion.

She raised her head and faced him. ”It should be fine, thank you.”

She was still shy though, he could clearly see her embarrassment in her beautiful black eyes.

”That is good. You can check it out later, yourself.”

”I will, but how did you get the poison out?”

”Let's just say I borrowed the antidote from one of the soldiers after you got hit by the arrow.”

”That was sneaky and smart,” she said with a smile.

”Why thank you,” he said leisurely.

His eyes studied her face and he noticed her expression fell. Her eyes narrowed as she stared blankly ahead. She seemed to be deep in thoughts.

He didn't want to disturb her but he also wanted to know what was going on in her mind. Just as he was about to ask her what was wrong, Astrid spoke first.

”I am sorry for causing you so much trouble and making your people brand you a traitor.”

'So that is what she is worried about!'

”It is okay, I cannot change what they think anymore.”

”What about if you tell them the truth, you didn't do anything wrong?”

”No. They would not believe even if I did tell them that you never meant any harm being in the forest. You only wanted to deliver the White Tiger-Phoenix beasts to their home,” he explained.

”You killing those men and your power surge was just because those men attacked us. It was an act of self-defence and nothing more. But now, it is something else entirely, a mage in Elven lands, sided by an elf. Now that is not what they would easily let go off.”

'Till now he still thinks they are after me because of that earlier incident with my power surge. He still doesn't know the truth. I feel bad about having to lie to him and keeping my identity a secret, but with everything that has happened, I do not know if I should. If I do, would he still accompany me? Would he expose me? But I doubt he would, he knows I am a mage but he is still by my side.'

”It's all because of me. If you had not decided to help me earlier on, then you wouldn't be in this mess.”

”No, do not blame yourself. If there is anything, you are a good person. You risked a lot to journey to the forest peak and take them home. That is noble and kind.”

”You also did the same, Jareth. You risked something bigger.”

When she put it like that, what could he say? Both of them stared at each other, appreciating the silence for some time.

Her eyes were so tender and held so much warmth in them. Everything about her changed and melted him. She was so good, so pure and so innocent. It was just painful that they would not be together long.